Shaft-coupling.



Patented may 20, |902.,

A. B. TOWER.

SHAFT couPLlNG.'

(Application led Feb, 24, 1902.)

Suva-Moz and like parts requiring to be coupledv or 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT R. TOWER, oFRooKwELL, FLORIDA.

SHAFT-COUPLING.

sPEoIFIcA'rIoN fogmmgfoart f Letters' ratent No.7oo,457, dated' May 2o, 1902. Application iiledFehrnary 24, 19(02. Seri-al No. 95.424.4 (No model.)

To all whom it vmay. concern:

Be it known that LALBERT B. TowER,-a citi- 'zen of the United States, `residing at Rockwelh,

l'This invention provides a rigid and securel joint of novel formation for rods, shafts, bars,

spliced. g

The invention comprises a sectional sleeve to be fitted to the ends of the parts to be cou-l,

pled, having longitudinal grooves in its outer side to form seats and to increase the circum-f ferential flexibility off-the sleeve, said sleeve tapering uponv its outer side'toward its eX-' tremities, rings or bands driven upon the ends of the sleeve, and keys seated in the longitudinal grooves of the sleeve and having theirends upset to hold the outermost rings in place. Y

' For a full 'description ofthe invention and the merits thereof and also to'acquire a knowledge of the details of "construction of the means for eecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings heretoattached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modiiication, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which; l

Figure 1 is a side viewof a shaft-coupling embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is an end view. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sectional sleeve, the rings or bands and keys being omitted: Fig. 5 is a detail viewin perspective of akey. p

Corresponding and like parts are referred Vto in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters. A

The numerals l and 2 'represent the proximal ends of adjacent .rpds,-bars,ior"parts to be coupled and between which the-'joint'is formed. The coupling comprisesjthe sectional sleeve 3, of any desired length,`soas to extend along lthe length` of the partsl and Q'any desired distance. .This sleeve may ern# bodyiany number of sections, although'two' only are shown. The sleeve tapers toward its ends from a middle-point-and `is provided n with a series of longitudinal grooves4 to `pro- 'Y vide seats for the receptionof keys 5. They grooves 4, besides forming seats for the keys A5, .increase the flexibility of`the' sleeve cireu'lnferentially,thereby enabling compression of the sleeve to grip the end portions ofthe r f* lparts l and 2'when coupling the sanne'.L The sleeve is preferably of cast-iron, althoughk anylmetal or materialumay enter into its for-` f "mation, according to the specific-use'for which the coupling is designed.

Series of rings or bands-6 arepro'vided and y areadapted to be driven orforced upon'the tapering end portions of the sleeve, so as to contactthe same and compel a firm gripl ping of the ends 1 and Zot' the rods, bars,vor other parts to be coupled.. The inner walls `ofthe rings taper slightly to conform to the taper of the sleeve,and theopenings ofl the rings vary slightly to admit their occupying 'different positions in the length of the sleeve, as showny most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. By having a plurality of rings or bands each can be forced home vand a firmer connection between the sleeve and parts l and 2 obtained than would be possible by the use of a single l ring or band of a length equal to the cornbined space occupied by the series of rings. The rings or bands act as binders and are preferably of steel, although this is not essential, as any material may be employed in their formation. p

The keys 5 are slender and preferably of vwrought metal and are fitted in the grooves or seats 4, and after the rings 6 have been l driven or forced home the ends of the keys are upset, as shown at 7, to prevent outward displacement thereof. lt is preferred to place the keys in position after the rings or bands have been driven homey upon the sleeve, said keys being preferably heated, -so that upon cooling after having their ends upset the outerinost rings will be drawn inward. The

IOO

coupling maybe removed at any time by cutting the keys 5 intermediate of their ends and forcing or driving the rings G outward.

The joint formed is rigid and secure, and by having the sleeve composed of sections and the sections grooved slight variations of size in the end portions of the parts l and 2 to be coupled are provided for and one end may be as firmly gripped as the other. When driving or forcing the rings o1' bands 6 home upon the sleeve, the latter yields eireumferentially, so as to grip the parts l and 2 equally at all points. Hence a firm connection isthe resuit.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. A coupling for shafts, rods and the like, comprising a sectional sleeve tapering from a middle point toward its extremities and having longitudinal grooves in its outer side, series of rings or bands forced upon the tapei-ing end portions of the sleeve, and keys seated in the said grooves and having their end portions upset, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described coupling for shafts, rods and the like comprisinga sectional sleeve tapering upon its outer side from a middle point toward its extremities and having 1ongitudinal grooves, series of rings or bands for each end portion of the sleeve and having their openings of varying size and tapering to conform to the taper of the sleeve, and keys fitted in the said grooves and having their outer ends upset, substantially as specilied.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT B. TOVER. 

